Surfactant-assisted electrochemical sensor for phytocannabinoids

The Cannabis sativa plant is known to be a complex source of phytocannabinoids with diverse applications across medicinal, recreational, and industrial domains. However, the proliferation of cannabidiol (CBD)-based or lowO 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (O9-THC) content products has posed challenges for law enforcement agencies due to the complexity of distinguishing lawful from illicit usage. As legislation around cannabis evolves, precise and reliable analytical methods are urgently needed. Traditional techniques, while accurate, are time-consuming and resource intensive. Portable field tests lack specificity and often need follow-up confirmatory tests. Herein, an innovative electrochemical sensor for accurate and efficient identification of phytocannabinoids is presented. The study focuses on the detection of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), O 9-THC, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), CBD, cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabinol (CBN), employing unmodified carbon screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) as the platform. Additionally, the integration of a cationic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), is investigated to enhance the sensitivity. This electrochemical sensor demonstrates successful qualitative and semi-quantitative identification of the main phytocannabinoids in seizures. Ultimately, our sensor benefits harm and supply reduction agencies by facilitating quality control and addressing the complexities of varied cannabis products.